Using proprietary Bose® technology, L1 systems combine PA and monitors into a single, highly portable unit. The loudspeaker can be positioned behind or to the side —and you hear what the audience hears.

L1 Compact audience coverage

Hello, I am considering purchasing an L1 Compact, and have a question. My understanding is that the L1 Compact speaker array needs to be at the same height as the audience. I sometimes perform on same floor level as audience, but other times I may be up on a stage several feet higher than the audience. Is this likely to be a problem, with the sound being directed out and over their heads? Most speakers would provide SPL for quite a ways below the level of the speaker, but it sounds like the L1 Compact is designed NOT to do this, is that correct?

I sometimes perform on same floor level as audience, but other times I may be up on a stage several feet higher than the audience. Is this likely to be a problem, with the sound being directed out and over their heads?

Not an issue with the L1® Compact.

Most speakers would provide SPL for quite a ways below the level of the speaker, but it sounds like the L1 Compact is designed NOT to do this, is that correct?

Thanks for the fast reply. I've compared so many of the different models and features, I must have gotten some of the facts crossed with one of the other L1 models you mentioned. Glad to hear it shouldn't be a problem I do magic shows in school settings. Using for voice amplification as well as some music and sound effect tracks.Audience sizes can vary widely. For Me so far, it's usually been around 150, but I want to be prepared for larger audiences in the future, and actually posted a second question separately related to this exact topic.

For 150 attentive students with only one microphone and some tracks, you might be fine. If the students get noisy, then you'll be competing with them.

If you're on a raised stage most of the time, then the Compact is a better choice for you than the other models.

If you don't NEED to be able to hear yourself well (as most musicians do), then you can put the Compact at the front of the stage and get more coverage than is typical for musicians. We tend to put the Compact behind us (as recommended) so that we can hear ourselves. But this is also a limiting factor in terms of how loud we can push the system. If you are using a wireless lavalier microphone. You will want to put the Compact between you and the audience. If you are wearing a head-worn microphone where the microphone capsule is near your mouth, this is less critical.

Bose has a 45-day return policy when you order direct from them. I'd encourage you to try out a Compact in your show (or get into a show setting and try it out). That's the best way to know if it will work for you.

There's a promotion on the L1® Compact until March 31st (US and Canada only).

ST

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Satisfaction is guaranteed on all Bose® products purchased by consumers directly from Bose. We want you to be thrilled, so if you're not satisfied with your purchase for any reason, simply return it within the 30-day* trial period for a full refund.*45 days for L1® systems.-- Source: Returning an Order Bose Returns

If you are looking to purchase a system through an authorized Bose dealer, please consult with them regarding their return policy.

Thanks ST, I appreciate the tips and helpful information. My main dilemna is that as I said, RIGHT NOW most of my shows have audiences up to around 150, but I anticipate having larger sizes in future, and I have also never performed in a gym setting. So for right NOW, it would be hard to purchase one and try it out because I wouldn't have the opportunity to try it under the conditions I'm questioning. And I agree, the people I have gotten "feedback" from (no pun intended), have no reason to misrepresent their results. I do trust them. I just find it very hard to reconcile such huge differences between what Bose is saying the system can handle, and what performers are actually experiencing with it. The performers I'm familiar with use it in gym settings which have HORRIBLE accoustics, with up to 500 people in the audience, and ELEMENTARY KIDS at that, so clearly they are not always as attentive and quiet as might be expected from an adult concert setting. But these performers RAVE about how well it works for them in THOSE settings. IF they get such GOOD results under THOSE conditions, I can't quite wrap my mind around why bose would only rate it for 100 people under more NORMAL conditions.The other performers use a variety of mics, mostly either headset mics, or wireless handhelds mounted on a neck mount strap. But they tell how phenomenal the sound is and how CLEAR it is even in a gym where most PA speakers echo and reflect so badly you can hardly hear what the person is saying. And they say at almost every show they get people coming up telling them how good it sounds, In THOSE CONDITIONS!! I just read a post by one person saying they were using their L1 Compact in a gym and it sounded so good that other people who were using the "house" PA speakers actually came up and asked if they could make the announcements from the L1 because it could actually be understood. I LOVE that these accounts are true and that I can hopefully expect just as good of results, I just can't grasp how Bose would "misrepresent" them so drastically, for lack of better words, LOL. (More accurately, to "under-rate" them so drastically. I totally understand giving a conservative rating so as not to OVER-RATE something, but this just seems like a huge under-rating.

Also thanks for the link to the spec sheet. And i made the comment about that spec being conspicuously hidden as tongue in cheek, because I totally understand how with a system like L1 it would not be comparing apples to apples to just look at the power output, but aside from the link you posted, I've read MANY information sheets for the L1 which talks about ALL HTE OTHER ASPECTS, but wouldn't even MENTION the power output, not even with a qualifying explanation of why it's not an even comparison, so I just found it a little humorous. But the proof is in the pudding, and if all these performers are raving about how well it does in these real world conditions, it really doesn't matter if Bose is doing it with TEN WATTS, lol. If it works, it works, i just thought it was a little odd that they don't at least include it in FINE PRINT in their information sales sheets along with an explanation .

ST is making an excellent and critical point...working a venue like a gym where the acoustics are, well, bad at best....most of us old school audio guys are tempted to just hit the room with overwhelming force..so much volume/cabinets so that you're sure to hear the initial spoken word, etc...we rely on the physical bodies to soak up as much echo as possible .

but with the Bose...you pull all that back..you approach the room very differently. Yes you need enough volume to get over top of the chatter, but once you have their attention, you pull it back...the bose for me has been about having sound "everywhere"...it never smacks anyone in the face just so it can be heard elsewhere in the venue. I've done the gym thing with mackie 450 tops and 15subs, I've done the gym thing with overwhelming force of a quad of 3-ways, boxes of 18 subs, etc..the stage monitors alone where enough to fill the room...and I've done it with (2) bose L1c units...from a spoken word standpoint, and the mid-top end of the music...yep..they were enough.

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